Must See Sports Cars at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show

2017-Mercedes-Benz-SLC43

Sports cars are the adrenaline that courses through the veins of the auto industry, which explains why they typically serve as the focal point of any given auto show. The 2016 Detroit Auto Show was no exception to the rule, with a long list of intriguing high performance debuts queuing up beside perennial favorites on the concourse to give attendees plenty of tire-shredding eye candy to enjoy.

Check out our picks for the 10 must see sports cars at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.

2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class roars into Detroit on the strength of its refreshed styling, brand new name, and a pair of turbocharged engines. No longer known as the SLK-Class (with the 'C' swapped in to represent the car's close mechanical link to the brand's entry-level sedan), the SLC300 starts out with a 241 horsepower, turbo four-cylinder motor, while the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 gifts the roadster with a 362 horsepower, 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder unit that's also good for 384 lb-ft of torque. Each version of the roadster is shifted via a nine-speed automatic gearbox, and offers nimble handling without sacrificing road trip comfort.

A name change, new look, and fresh mechanical details highlight the updates made to the new SLC-Class.

Spring of 2016.

We're still waiting for pricing information for the Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class.

2017 Porsche 911 Turbo

The 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo is a Teutonic thrill ride that is also remarkably easy to live with on a daily basis. Puttering around town inside the 911 Turbo provides you with no clue that you're sitting on 540 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque. It's not until you floor the gas pedal that the 3.8-liter, twin-turbo boxer six roars to life and provides you with heart-stopping acceleration, made all the more manageable by the car's standard all-wheel drive system and PDK automated manual transmission.

More standard equipment, 20 extra horsepower compared to the previous model, and a revised interior are some of the most important 911 Turbo highlights.

April of 2016.

Starting MSRP for the 911 Turbo is listed as $159,200.

2017 Fiat 124 Spider

Have you ever wanted a Miata with a little Italian flavor thrown in for good measure? The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider takes Mazda's roadster bones and wraps them in eye-catching sheet metal to create the first entry-level convertible from the brand to reach American shores in quite a long time. Upping the ante over the Miata is a completely different turbocharged drivetrain which squeezes 160 horses and 184 lb-ft of torque from a mere 1.4-liters of four-cylinder fury (and of course a six-speed manual transmission is available alongside an six-speed automatic).

The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider is an all-new model.

There's no firm date on the Spider hitting showrooms.

Pricing has yet to be released for the Fiat roadster.

Photo by Rex Torres

2016 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro convertible peels the top back on the Bowtie brand's completely redesigned muscle car. Available with the choice of either a 275 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 335 horsepower V-6, or a 6.2-liter, 455 horsepower V-8 (in SS trim), the Chevrolet Camaro convertible is a versatile and affordable fun-in-the-sun option. Handling for the car has also been improved over the previous generation thanks to new suspension options and the decision to slice 200 lbs from the convertible's curb weight.

The Chevrolet Camaro convertible is all new for 2016.

It's already on sale.

The Camaro convertible starts at an MSRP of $25,700.

2017 Porsche 911 Targa 4

The 2017 Porsche 911 Targa 4 might not have the face-peeling power of its Turbo sibling, but it makes up for it with a style-forward take on open-air driving. The Targa 4's unique retractable roof panel is fully automatic, and for 2017 the Porsche gains a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder motor that's good for 370 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, matched with all-wheel drive and the choice between manual and PDK gearboxes.

The big story for the 2017 911 Targa 4 is its new turbocharged engine (and a $5,670 price bump over the previous model year).

April of 2016.

The 2017 Porsche 911 Targa 4 will set you back $108,600.

Photo by Rex Torres

2017 BMW M2

The 2017 BMW M2 gives sports car fans yet another reason to turn to Bavaria for their next ride. Shrinking down many of the same performance features already available with the BMW M4 coupe, the two-door M2 is lighter and just as quick as many of its existing M cousins thanks to the presence of a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine. With more than 360 horses and a whopping 369 lb-ft of torque on tap, the BMW M2's well-tuned chassis and arresting looks complete an appealing package whether you're headed to the track or simply want to turn heads on the street.

The BMW M2 is a brand new model.

April of 2016.

The M2 will cost you $51,700.

VLF Force 1 V10

The VLF Force 1 V10 is the latest effort from erstwhile electric car designer Henrik Fisker. In an about-face from his most recent model - the hybrid Karma sedan - the VLF Force 1 V10 takes a Dodge Viper platform and give it an extra dose of aggression by way of its bespoke body work. Under the car's long hood you'll find an 8.4-liter V-10, as in the Dodge sports car, only VLF has tuned the unit to produce 745 horsepower and 638 lb-ft of torque - enough grunt to launch the Force 1 to 60-mph in three seconds flat.

The VLF Force 1 V10 is all-new.

You'll have to get in digital line to order one at ViperExchange.com, but there's no word on when the first of 50 examples will be delivered.

Open your wallet wide: the Force 1 V10 carries a sticker price of $268,500.

2017 Lexus LC 500

The 2017 Lexus LC 500 represents the first full-size coupe from the Japanese brand since the limited-edition LFA left the market in 2012. The LC 500 is less hardcore but more important than the ultra-expensive LFA, in part because it's aimed at helping Lexus gain some respect in the world of luxury performance. Drawing inspiration from the LF-LC concept car, the LC 500 is eye catching and quick thanks to its 467 horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. There is nothing else like this big, rear-wheel drive two-door in the Lexus showroom.

The 2017 LC 500 is a new addition to the Lexus family.

By the end of 2016.

Expect pricing in the $100,000 range.

2017 Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet

The 2017 Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet isn't exactly a traditional sports car, what with its plus-size proportions, but that doesn't mean it can't satisfy your hankering for performance. The S65's secret is its twin-turbo V-12 engine, which thunders out an incredible 621 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque on its way to overcoming any perceived weight problem. All-wheel drive helps keep everything under control, and with the top down the sound of the Mercedes-AMG's 12 cylinders provides an intoxicating turbo symphony.

The 2017 Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet is a new convertible model based on the S-Class coupe.

Spring of 2016.

The price of the S65 Cabriolet has yet to be announced

2017 Infiniti Q60

The 2017 Infiniti Q60 aims to walk all over BMW and Audi with the most fierce version of the premium sports coupe to have been offered in North America. The Infiniti Q60's performance credentials come in the form of its new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6, which has been tuned to provide 400 horsepower. A seven-speed automatic transmission is standard with the Q60, and if you're looking for a bit more control then you can also spec the coupe with an all-wheel drive system.

The Infiniti Q60 has been completely redesigned for 2017.

Summer of 2016.

Pricing information for the Q60 hasn't been published.